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FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase

The three-nation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has awarded a £686 million ($904 million) joint design contract to design-and-development authority Edgewing, announced 2 April. The award funds core design and engineering activities to move the UK–Japan–Italy partnership into its next programme phase and build industrial momentum.

2026-04-02T04:20:53.455568-07:00

FlightGlobal

UK and France launch 12-month MoU study to develop successor to MBDA Meteor BVR missile

2026-04-02T03:21:24.464331-07:00

AeroTime

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row

2026-04-02T02:25:47.387168-07:00

Reuters

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo and Sisu

2026-04-02T01:01:25.894511-07:00

News Timeline

Vertical Mag

Hydroplane wins Phase 2 SBIR to develop hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion for Army helicopters and cargo drones Hydroplane has been awarded a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research contract by the U.S. Army to advance development of a hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion system for helicopters and cargo drones. The award supports maturation of fuel-cell powertrain hardware and integration for military rotorcraft and unmanned logistics platforms.

2026-04-02T05:41:56.482655-07:00

Hydroplane wins Phase 2 SBIR to develop hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion for Army helicopters and cargo drones

FlightGlobal

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase The three-nation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has awarded a £686 million ($904 million) joint design contract to design-and-development authority Edgewing, announced 2 April. The award funds core design and engineering activities to move the UK–Japan–Italy partnership into its next programme phase and build industrial momentum.

2026-04-02T04:20:53.455568-07:00

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase

FlightGlobal

UK and France launch 12-month MoU study to develop successor to MBDA Meteor BVR missile The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a 12-month joint study into a successor to MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. The study will assess the future threat landscape and set technical requirements for a next-generation BVR weapon used by Typhoons and Rafales.

2026-04-02T03:21:24.464331-07:00

UK and France launch 12-month MoU study to develop successor to MBDA Meteor BVR missile

AeroTime

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row France will fund the Rafale F5 development alone after the UAE walked away from a proposed €3.5 billion contribution, La Tribune reports. Abu Dhabi quit negotiations when Paris refused to provide what the UAE described as "meaningful" technology transfers, stalling a potential export partnership.

2026-04-02T02:25:47.387168-07:00

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row

Reuters

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo and Sisu Sweden has launched its SEK 8.7 billion GUTE II counter‑drone programme, awarding contracts to Saab (a SEK 2.6bn order for a mobile, modular C‑UAS with deliveries in 2027–28), BAE Systems Bofors (Tridon Mk2, ~USD180m), Nammo and Sisu to harden military and critical‑infrastructure defences.

2026-04-02T01:01:25.894511-07:00

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo and Sisu

New York Times

Iran conflict spotlights LIG Nex1 interceptors’ strong performance at a fraction of U.S. cost South Korea’s LIG Nex1-made missile interceptors are reported to be performing effectively in the Iran conflict while costing only a small fraction of comparable U.S. interceptors, drawing attention to lower-cost alternatives for regional air-defence procurement and potential export opportunities for Seoul’s defence sector.

2026-04-01T21:21:27.909537-07:00

Iran conflict spotlights LIG Nex1 interceptors’ strong performance at a fraction of U.S. cost

New York Times

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Artemis II launches four-person crew on first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years Artemis II’s four‑person crew — three American veterans and Canada’s first lunar astronaut — launched on a 10‑day lunar flyby, the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in over 50 years. The flight will validate Orion systems, biomedical experiments and the contractor model as commercial entrants press in.

2026-04-01T12:41:18.008344-07:00

Artemis II launches four-person crew on first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years

Reuters

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Pentagon signs seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple PAC‑3 MSE seeker production; Lockheed pact runs concurrently The Defense Department signed a seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple production of seekers for the Patriot PAC‑3 Missile Segment Enhancement, aligning with Lockheed Martin’s parallel agreement to surge all‑up round output. The pacts aim to rapidly expand U.S. missile‑defense inventory and industrial capacity.

2026-04-01T04:51:59.110748-07:00

Pentagon signs seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple PAC‑3 MSE seeker production; Lockheed pact runs concurrently

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase

UK and France launch 12-month MoU study to develop successor to MBDA Meteor BVR missile

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo and Sisu

News Timeline